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| L-R: Buhari, Dogara and Saraki |
There are strong indications that there
is a cold war that may generate to a major showdown between the National
Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari over some of the recent
policies of the Federal Government.
It was reliably gathered on Friday that
the lawmakers were not happy with some of the actions of the executive,
including the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Qatar and
the enlistment of Nigeria in the Islamic Coalition Against Terrorism.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that the
grouse of most members of the National Assembly was that the President
did not consult them before taking the decisions.
It was learnt that members of the All
Progressives Congress in the legislature had not openly come out to
express their “real positions” on the policies so as not to be accused
of anti-party activities.
But, some members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party told Saturday PUNCH
that the fragile peace in the National Assembly could break down any
moment from now, especially if the executive continued to take the
lawmakers for granted.
A member of the House, who confided in Saturday PUNCH, said,
“The actions of the executive smack of disregard for the National
Assembly. The President should be consulting the legislature.”
Also, some senators accused the
executive of taking the National Assembly, especially the upper chamber,
for granted by not seeking its approval as required by law before
carrying out major political and economic decisions.
A cross section of senators, who spoke
on and off the record with one of our correspondents in Abuja, accused
the President of running a one-man show, especially on critical national
issues. They cited the case of Nigeria joining
the Saudi Arabia led anti-terrorist group; the re-organisation of the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; and appointments into key
positions without the Senate clearance as some of the offences of the
executive.
For instance, a principal officer, who
is representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, Senator Abiodun
Olujimi, lamented that she read the story of Nigeria’s membership of the
Saudi Arabia-led anti terrorist group like every other Nigerian in the
newspapers. She said such a major international
policy as well as sensitive appointments into key positions were major
decisions that the executive was not constitutionally empowered to carry
out unilaterally. She said, if the executive failed to do
the needful going forward, appointees into some key positions might lose
their appointments. Olujimi said, “What the executive is
doing with such a practice is to put the cart before the horse and this
would no longer be tolerated by us. We are determined to put a stop to
this. We have told our leaders in the senate to convey our message to
the executive.
“We have told them that the last
appointments should be the last that would be made without proper
screening and clearance from the senate. Any time such a practice
repeats itself. Such nominee will be rejected.”
Speaking on the current major
restructuring at the NNPC, the Vice – Chairman, Senate Committee on
Police, Women Affairs and Youth Development, Senator Stella Oduah, said
the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, who also doubles as the
Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, took the National
Assembly for a ride by the action. She said, “I really don’t understand
when this House (National Assembly) has become a rubber stamp that
whatever is put forward should be rubber-stamped and approved. I think
this is totally unacceptable.
“I think when such a thing is to be
done, we need to know about it. We need to be informed. We need to
brainstorm and we need to agree whether the objective for which such
reorganisation is to be done is in tandem and indeed will be
accomplished.
“When that is not done, I find it disrespectful, I find it totally objectionable and I think it is not acceptable.”
Also, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Saturday PUNCH
learnt also stressed the need for the executive to respect the
independence of each arm of government. He said that the executive
should not underrate the powers of other arms of government to exercise
necessary checks and balances.
Our relationship is shaky—Senate spokesman
While the Senate spokesperson, Sabi
Abdullahi, refused to confirm a likely showdown with the executive, he
admitted that the relationship between the National Assembly and the
President was shaky. He said, “To the best of our knowledge,
we don’t have cold war neither do we have hot war. But we don’t need to
deny the fact that there is a kind of shaky relationship between us.
“We have managed the shaky relationship
in the overall interest of this country because that supersedes any
interest that might have given birth to the crisis.
“I also want to make it very clear,
without any fear of contradiction that since we came on board, we were
very sensitive to that and we have tried as much as possible to carry on
our duty in a manner that is devoid of a sentiment attached to the
perceived crisis.
“This is a democratic system and we are
frontally engaging and that engagement is a continuous system through
the instruments of our various committees.”
The House had on March 8 opposed the executive’s decision to restructure the NNPC without consulting the National Assembly. Also on March 8, it summoned the
Director-General of the Department State Services, Mr. Lawal Daura, over
the “invasion” of the Ekiti State House of Assembly by DSS operatives. On March 10, the House said Buhari had ignored its three requests to submit the Petroleum Industry Bill.
Commenting on Buhari’s actions in recent
past on Friday, the Minority Leader of the House, Mr. Leo Ogor, cited
the case of Nigeria’s membership of the Islamic coalition, saying it was
against the secular interests of Nigeria, being a multi-religious
country. Ogor noted that nearly all the countries
in the coalition were Islamic nations, whose agenda would not
necessarily apply to Nigeria in all ramifications. He said, “He (Buhari) has to come before
the National Assembly. It is against the clear interest of our
constitution and our diversity as a country. “There is no way that coalition will
stand because the states in the coalition are mostly Islamic states.
Even our soldiers who are not Muslims, how does this apply to them?”
Ogor added that under Section 12 of the
1999 Constitution (as amended), “no treaty can stand unless in the
manner approved by the National Assembly. “So, every treaty must comply with this constitution and the interest of secular Nigeria must be uppermost at all times.”
Buhari has highest regard for N’Assembly members—-Presidential aide
When contacted, the Special Assistant to
the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang,
said, “I do not yet have the details of what the issues are. I can
however assure you that Mr. President has the highest regard for all of
our distinguished senators.
“He would not in any way take the
National Assembly, the Senate or individual senators for granted on any
matter. I cannot speak on the specifics of your question because I don’t
have the details. “But I know that as the liaison officer,
our President has the greatest respect for senators and the functions
of the Senate and that is why you’ve seen that in all matters requiring
Senate action we send it to them without taking decisions before doing
so; like bills and other issues requiring legislation. “I will relate with the distinguished
Senators because we want to build on the healthy relationship we
currently enjoy with the legislature.”
Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant
to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said in an
exclusive telephone interview with one of our correspondents that Buhari
currently enjoys excellent relationship with members and the leadership
of the National Assembly.
He said, “There is excellent
relationship between the President and members as well as the leadership
of the National Assembly. There is also unhindered communication
between them. They meet formally and informally very regularly. They
even met as lately as two days ago.”
The presidential spokesman also said the
President was aware of the fact that he could not sign any treaty with
another country without the Senate’s approval and he would not do so. He urged lawmakers who might be complaining to be patient because Buhari would approach them when the time comes.
“On agreements, the constitution is very
clear on the fact that no treaty is valid without the Senate’s
approval. Senators should be a little bit patient with the President. He
won’t sign any treaty without recourse to them. The time will come when
he will seek their approval,” he said.
Shehu also added that the Presidency is not aware of any appointments that required Senate approval that Buhari did not get. He explained, “There was a problem of
communication as regards to appointments in the NCC, AMCON and FIRS. The
announcements should have read ‘nomination’ instead of ‘appointment.’
“The President asked that the correction be made and the appropriate words be used.
“That was in the early days of this
administration. Since then, there have been no other cases like that.
The relationship between the Executive and the Legislature is
excellent.”
Soruce: Punch Newspapers
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PLEASE BE POLITE